Front three-quarter view
For the traveller who will not compromise on style or driving pleasure. With its KODO design and premium interior, the Mazda CX-5 feels like a European luxury car at a sensible daily rate, and it is small enough to park anywhere in Nairobi.
Who the CX-5 suits
- Business travellers and consultants in Nairobi for a week or two, with meetings in Upper Hill, Westlands or Gigiri.
- Couples and solo travellers who want something nicer than a saloon, without the size of a 4x4.
- Diaspora visitors running errands and visiting family around town, who still want a car that feels special.
- Anyone who likes to drive: the CX-5 steers and brakes more like a sports saloon than a crossover.
If you need seven seats, the Mazda CX-8 is the same family with a third row. If your plans include long drives in the rains, the four-wheel drive Toyota Prado is the safer choice.
Seats and luggage
The CX-5 seats five, with room in the back for two adults on longer drives. The boot takes two large suitcases and a couple of carry-ons, which covers most couples and small families from the airport. Four adults with four big suitcases will be tight: tell us your numbers and we will tell you honestly whether it fits.
Handed over at JKIA
Add your flight number when you book and we track your flight. The evening before you land we send your driver's name and number on WhatsApp, and your driver meets you in the arrivals hall at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) with a sign bearing your name. We film a walk-round video together, show you the fuel level, spare wheel and jack, and you drive straight into town. Delivery to JKIA is KES 1,000, the same as to your hotel. Read our airport promise.
Made for the city
The CX-5 is sleek, easy to park in a tight mall basement, and comfortable in stop-start traffic on Waiyaki Way or Ngong Road. It looks at home outside a boardroom or a restaurant in Karen, and nobody gives it a second look in a residential estate, which many clients prefer.
Economical and quiet
Mazda's Skyactiv engines are punchy yet economical, and the cabin stays quiet at speed. Over a week of city driving, that keeps your fuel bill well below what a big 4x4 would cost. Fuel is extra, and you return the car with the same level you collected it with.
Ready for the weekend
When the week is done, it is just as happy on a weekend escape to Naivasha, Nanyuki or the Rift Valley viewpoints. It stays on paved roads in Kenya; tell us your route when you book and we confirm it.
With a chauffeur
Back-to-back meetings? Add a chauffeur for KES 4,000 a day in Nairobi or KES 5,000 a day outside, plus your driver's food and overnight accommodation away from Nairobi, and work in the back seat instead of looking for parking.
What a CX-5 trip costs
The table below works out 3, 7 and 14 days all in from today's daily rate, with delivery and collection, the cleaning and service fee and VAT.
Compare with
- Toyota Harrier: the CX-5's closest rival, with a softer, quieter ride.
- Nissan X-Trail: a practical SUV at a lower daily rate.
- Mazda CX-8: a third row when you need seven seats.
- Guide: JKIA to Westlands, your first drive into town.
What the Mazda CX-5 costs for a real trip
All in, self-drive: the daily rate, delivery and collection in Nairobi (JKIA included), the cleaning and service fee, and VAT at 16%. Fuel is extra, and you return the car with the same fuel level.
| Hire | Total, VAT included |
|---|---|
| 3 days | KES 33,060 ≈ $255 USD / £193 GBP / €228 EUR |
| 7 days | KES 72,500 ≈ $559 USD / £422 GBP / €499 EUR |
| 14 days | KES 141,520 ≈ $1,091 USD / £824 GBP / €975 EUR |
The refundable security deposit is on top, and is refunded immediately after the return handover inspection.
With every Urban Escape car
A 2019 model or newer, serviced and cleaned before each hire, with comprehensive insurance, unlimited mileage, GPS tracking, 24/7 help and a replacement car if the car has a manufacturer (mechanical) issue. Add a vetted chauffeur for KES 4,000 a day in Nairobi or KES 5,000 outside. Cars stay in Kenya and on paved roads; only our Land Cruiser Safari goes on game drives. Pay a refundable reservation deposit within 2 hours of booking (we send a card payment link, or M-Pesa details by WhatsApp, phone or email), then the balance when you see the car, by M-Pesa, bank transfer, credit card or cash. Free cancellation until the car is handed over.
Why clients choose the CX-5
- KODO design that stands out
- Economical Skyactiv engine
- Quiet, premium cabin
- Easy to park in the city
Ideal for
- Business professionals
- Couples and solo travellers
- City driving
- Weekend getaways
Mazda CX-5 hire: questions
How much is Mazda CX-5 hire in Nairobi?
The daily self-drive rate is at the top of this page, before 16% VAT, and the table above works out 3, 7 and 14 days all in, with delivery, the cleaning fee and VAT.
How many suitcases fit in the Mazda CX-5?
Two large suitcases and a couple of carry-ons, which suits most couples and small families. For more, the seven-seat Mazda CX-8 has a bigger boot with its third row folded.
Is the Mazda CX-5 fuel efficient?
Yes. Its Skyactiv engine is one of the more economical in its class, which keeps city driving costs down.
Should I choose the CX-5 or the Toyota Harrier?
Both are premium five-seat SUVs at similar rates. The CX-5 feels sportier to drive; the Harrier has a softer, quieter ride.
Can I drive the CX-5 to Naivasha or Nanyuki?
Yes, on paved roads, with our approval for trips beyond Nairobi and the nearby counties. It stays in Kenya and on paved roads, and it can't be taken on safari game drives: the only car in our fleet allowed on game drives is our Land Cruiser Safari.
Can I hire the CX-5 with a driver?
Yes: KES 4,000 a day within Nairobi or KES 5,000 a day outside, plus your driver's food and overnight accommodation away from Nairobi.
Deposit: when your money comes back
You see the exact security deposit for your car in your quote before you book, and again on your booking page. It is fully refundable and due with your remaining balance by handover. It is not an extra charge: it is returned when the car is returned. Your security deposit is refunded immediately after the return handover inspection. It comes back the same way you paid it: by M-Pesa to the number it came from, to the bank account you paid from, back to your card, or in cash. We check the car together and film it, just as we did at handover, and you get a written return receipt. If nothing is owed, you get it all back.
Only these can be taken off:
- fuel below the level you received, at the pump price
- traffic and speed camera fines, parking and tolls, at cost
- a late return, after the 1-hour grace period
- new damage shown on the handover and return videos, up to your Excess Fee for Damage
Anything taken off is on a written list, with the video or a receipt to show it, and there are no admin or processing fees.
Booking with a chauffeur? With one of our chauffeurs driving there is no security deposit and no Excess Fee for Damage. Read our fair damage promise, the rental terms in plain words, every car's price and deposit, and how JKIA airport handover works.